A Spiritual Adventure to El Camino de Santiago

Jun 14, 2012 06:18 - holly | 2,093 views

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Life in the western world can be pretty chaotic and stressful, especially if you live in a city and you only have the weekend to really relax and devote some time to your hobbies. It’s also true that when it comes to deciding where to go on holiday that there are so many things to take into consideration that many people just book a Europe cruise; it’s easy, fast and of course not stressful at all.

However, what if you need something a bit more adventurous and, let’s say, spiritual. You don’t have to be a religious person or be on the edge of a life crisis to choose to go on the “Camino de Santiago” (the route to Santiago). What this trip gives you is the space and time for your mind to concentrate on your immediate needs and wishes. Also, it gives you the chance to appreciate some of the things you have taken for granted in your life or to find positive inspiration about a possible life change.

Touching base: What you need to know about the “Camino”.

Throughout the centuries, many pilgrims around Europe have embarked upon a long foot march to reach Santiago de Compostela. This famous, spiritual, Catholic place is not only a UNESCO world heritage site, but also the reaching point of a route that people take moved by faith or by a restless need to challenge their spiritual and physical strength. Even though you can basically start the pilgrimage from your doorstep, the canonic routes start from France, Spain, Portugal and Germany – it depends on your trekking abilities and, of course, time. You can get a better idea of the different paths here: http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/camino-routes/

There are many hostels on the way to Santiago that have very cheap rates for pilgrims and they also offer a chance to socialize with other people, though most hostels switch off the lights at 9pm and a normal walking day starts at 7am.

The weather conditions can be pretty hard on the Pyrenees, however the most difficult part of the “Camino” is the loneliness, even when traveling with someone else. Don’t forget to make your backpack as light as you can because you’ll have to carry it for many kilometers. Most people can’t make it to the end on foot and decide to take buses or cars to get to Santiago. Either way, the city is a daily spiritual party and when you arrive you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished the biggest challenge of your life. Make sure to read these 45 FAQs on the link below, before planning you trip:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/45-faqs-on-the-camino-de-santiago/

Happy walking everyone!

» Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations